Saturday, November 24, 2012

Do You See What I See?

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

The weekend before Thanksgiving, I got my indoor bulbs going. As a kid, part of Christmas decorating meant sticking plastic holly and poinsettias all over the house. It's amazing how just a few sprouting bulbs placed around the house can easily replace most holiday decorations and bring each room to life.

Here I've started paperwhites in a trio of McCoy planters in the Greek Key pattern.

I've also started a few amaryllis in my turquoise McCoy planters. The front planter is the Daisies pattern and the back one is Sand Dollar, often referred to as the Necco Wafer pattern.

Photo: Wikipedia

Not only are Necco wafer candies nostalgic as a treat from my childhood,

the Necco wafer factory was just a few blocks from my house.

It's nice to keep a record of the amaryllis you're growing so you

can search out those favorite varieties the next year.

My favorite from last year was this La Paz.

This year I thought I would try a few new ones called Picotee and Lemon Star.

I'll show what they look like when they bloom.

The flowers are always something to look forward to as we head in to winter. And I'll probably pick up some more to start in a few weeks so I have greenery and blooms through most of the winter.

Hi Steve, I did the same a few weeks ago but I love the idea of doing a few more planters so I have them blooming throughout the coming weeks. The La Paz amaryllis is stunning - any advice on planting them?Enjoy the weekend!Phyllis

Phyllis,Amaryllis are really easy. The bulbs seem to have enough resources in them that the flowers will almost bloom without even planting them. Whether planted in soil or just decorative stones, just add water. I've read that by planting them in soil and/or fertilizer though, the bulbs will be recharged so they can be forced next year. The moss I added looked beautiful but the bulb got moldy underneath. I wouldn't recommend adding the moss unless you're adding it to dress them up for a holiday dinner or party.

I'm so glad you put your McCoy pottery to good use. As my mother would say, "The best is barely good enough!" Your amaryllis photo is handsome enough to turn into a greeting card — appropriate for several holidays.

My Christmas decorating is pretty subtle - so subtle, in fact, that most people would say I haven't decorated at all! I have an urn full of pine cones and a bare vine wreath in the living room, a tiny chili pepper wreath in the kitchen and paperwhites in an urn in the bedroom. I'll replace the paperwhites as they die. And that's about it. No glitz for this girl!

Okay, I'm drooling over your turquoise McCoy planters. As you may know from my blog, I collect McCoy pottery. I have one of the ivory Greek key pots, and I know what I'm going to do with it! I'm heading to the store to buy some bulbs right now. You wrote last year that adding some gin (or other alcohol) to the water stunts the growth don't the plants don't get too leggy, correct?Claudia

Hey Steve - Love those McCoy pots with the Greek Key! Even the saucers are handsome! I've started a couple amaryllis bulbs.....Red Lions. I'm looking forward to their gorgeous velvety red color. Last year I had amaryllis Naranja....more orange-red. Loi

Ha! Funny to find this post!I've just spent the day cutting and deadheading some plants that I brought in from my garden last month. One's a Honeysuckle and I have a couple of Geraniums and several houseplants that grew HUGE on the patio over the summer.Hmmm. Now I'm thinking I should try some amaryllis bulbs.How nice that would be! A garden inside!

I grow them every year and they are always worth the wait. This year I too have purchased the yellow. I've never seen yellow ones and I think they will really compliment the Susan pink I got with them. I love your blog and I've been reading it for at least a year. I live west of Framingham and I've been trying to figure exactly where you live. I love seeing your take on places I know well. Have a wonderful holiday season. It goes by way too fast.

Hey Steve, Thank for your comment on my recent post.... I was out and about yesterday and picked up paperwhites and daffodil bulbs at Northeast Nursery on Rt. 1. I think I'm going to go the rustic/country route with my containers. Sally and I have been able to stretch our Amaryllis two seasons by planting them in good potting soil.

Hi SteveWell...just brought home a few Amaryllis and some Paperwhites...mine found a home in some of my Milkglass containers...I'll just have to be careful...no drainage holes...they'll go out to one of my beds when they're finished blooming...the Amaryllis do so well in the yard too...not sure about the Paperwhites :) where did you find the yellow?am

Great way to decorate the house. I love the look of paper whites but the scent is too strong for me and mine. maybe I should go for the amaryllis instead. I was so proud of myself for saving the succulents that we planted this summer, by repotting them and bringing them inside. they really are cheerful and I hope they last the winter so I can take them outside in spring. (Unfortunately I tend to be a plant killer :-( I've had luck with a topiary lavender plant I have in my kitchen window, which is what gave me the courage to try and save the succulents)

Ima paperwhite nut myself. My husband threatened to leave one christmas because of the strong scent they give off. Does the scent bother you? I don't mind it - the delicate flowers are so worth it! loved this post, steve, and don't mind admitting I'm jealous of those cream colored pots. donna

The weekend BEFORE thanksgiving...that's when we are supposed to plant bulbs? Really? Why don't I know this? Annnnyway...yours are looking fabulous and those McCoy pots...and three of them...how wonderful!

I always admire people who remember to plant their bulbs in time!You mentioned Necco. I had a job interview there in 1986 to be a HR Assistant. My strongest memory was that once inside I had to be buzzed in past this sliding metal grate gate, felt a bit like a prison. I didn't get the job - maybe it was the look on my face?

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While out on a walk in my Boston area neighborhood, I came across an 1842 Greek Revival cottage for sale. I immediately fell in love with the possibilities. Join me on my journey of imagining all the possibilities while I renovate and furnish my cottage in the city.